Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the comments made by the hon. member opposite. He used several terms which, I must admit, shocked me and probably shocked our constituents and listeners.
Among other things, the hon. member said that tax points are a gift from the federal government to the provinces. Unless I am mistaken, tax points are given to a province when it withdraws from a program that is otherwise administered by the federal government. The province then has a duty to administer the program itself.
Therefore, as the federal government does not have to spend the money, it only makes sense that it would hand over the tax points relating to the program. But why does a province—Quebec among others—find itself in this situation; why does Quebec prefer to administer a number of programs itself and be compensated with tax points? Simply because it can do so better and more cheaply than the federal government.
People at home will certainly agree that, all too often, the money taken from their pockets is wasted here by the federal system, in which we happen to be members of Parliament. We deplore this situation in every possible way, and I join those who said so before me, because it is important to say so.
Let us not forget that when transfer payments are made to a province, it is because that province needs additional revenues to meet its commitments. So, the question is: why does a province lack revenues? Why are there provinces that are richer and others that are poorer?
As I recall, when he was asked why certain contracts did not go to certain provinces, the Prime Minister answered something like this: “Well, see, we have called for bids and the lowest bidder won.” You will agree with me that, when bids are called for furniture here, in Ottawa, it is not likely that a company from the maritimes will be able to bid the same way a company located nearby could.
In a nutshell, what is happening in this federation is that some regions are made to grow poorer because our tax money is concentrated in other regions. Then, out of kindness, certain amounts are transferred to the provinces adversely affected. This money does not create jobs. It is hidden social assistance for these governments. No province deserves to be treated this way, starting with Quebec. Why not let Quebec keep the tax money it collects and assume full responsibility for the provision of services? Why not have 100% of tax points at the level at which services can be provided at a much better price?
I will conclude by asking the hon. member opposite this question: Why not simply admit that the federal system is a huge waste of resources, that it has done its time and that it should just disappear?